After a civil lawsuit was filed against a Mexico resort alleging tainted alcohol led to the death of a woman, the Quintana Roo tourism board released a statement in response.
“We continue to monitor closely media reports sharing claims of tainted alcohol impacting visitors,” said the tourism board. “This includes a recent report of one family planning to file a civil lawsuit against a hotel in the state of Quintana Roo and resort booking website, with a claim that “tainted alcohol” was responsible for a tragic accident.”
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The tourism board did not comment directly on the case filed in court on Friday but clarified any questions about the alcohol served at the country’s resorts.
“As our organization and the hotel involved have shared numerous times, in this specific case as well as any other claims where an investigation was possible, there has been zero evidence found of tainted alcohol,” said the statement. “To the contrary, all medical reports, including blood tests, as well as supporting investigations have concluded that excessive levels of alcohol led to situations where individuals were mentally or physically impaired, and at times caused accidents. These conclusions are further supported by countless medical studies and health organizations focused on the education and prevention of alcohol-related illnesses and accidents.”
Indeed, tests of alcohol served at resorts around the region revealed no evidence of tainted booze. The tests were done by the Federal Commission for Protection against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) and results indicated that the alcohol was not altered.
“Based on our investigations and consultation with local and international organizations like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is clear that excessive alcohol consumption can lead to tragic accidents and that this is a worldwide issue that governments, states, and cities face. The CDC has called “binge drinking,” a common term for excessive alcohol consumption, an epidemic in the U.S. and long-term studies have concluded that it contributes to more than 40,000 deaths annually the U.S. alone from accidents and other alcohol-related health conditions,” said the statement from the Quintana Roo tourism board.
The region continues to monitor and review policies around the purchase and handling of alcohol, ensuring that they adhere to strict international standards.
“The State of Quintana Roo and the entire tourism industry is committed to doing everything possible to reduce the risk of future accidents and ensure our visitors have an amazing experience visiting our world-famous destinations,” the statement concludes.